DLTK's Educational Activities: AUSTRALIAN KOALA BEAR CRAFT   Actually, a Koala isn't a bear, it's a marsupial (but most people call it a Koala bear)!  If you want to skip the story and just get to the craft, scroll about half way down this web page.  (But the story's cute and rather educational!)

STORY:

My daughter went to the zoo to visit the Koala bears with her daycare class the other week.  The Koala bears are visiting from another zoo, so the kids made a special trip to see them.  When she came home that night she asked Daddy and I if we knew what baby koala bears eat.  Being "oh so wise" parents, we decided to amaze her with our vast knowledge of the world and simultaneously answered "Eucalyptus leaves!". 

Tasha smiled her, infamous "gotcha" smile and said "Nope, they eat poop." 

Quite convinced that she had somehow horribly misunderstood someone at the zoo, we smiled our "condescending parents" smile and replied that we were quite sure she was mistaken but that we'd ask her daycare instructor the next day to clarify things for us.

Off we went to daycare the next morning, secure in the knowledge that we were going to be proven more intelligent than our 5 year old.  When we arrived, Tasha ran up to her instructor and with a wink and a giggle asked her to tell Mommy and Daddy what baby Koala bears eat.   Her instructor winked back and promptly told us that Koala bears eat their parent's poop (ICK!).   She went on to explain that it is by eating this not so appetizing form of baby food that the baby koalas build up a tolerance to the poison in the Eucalyptus leaves.  Makes sense, but ICK!

Looking around we noticed a number of parents standing about with a wide range of disgusted, embarrassed and aghast looks on their faces. I realized that we had been collectively duped, outwitted and outsmarted by a room full of 4 and 5 year olds.   So much for the wisdom of parents. 

I've also been told that technically speaking a Koala isn't a bear (although we commonly call him one).  It's actually a marsupial.

INSTRUCTIONS:

This koala is grown up, so does not eat poop.  It is made with a toilet paper roll (never has my choice of craft supplies taken on such meaning in our household *giggle*), a printer, a piece of paper, some crayons, scissors and glue.  I always prefer to use a heavy paper (like construction paper), but it isn't necessary.  And in case you didn't catch it the first time, ICK! 

• Print out the template of choice.  If using the black and white template, try printing it on brown or red construction paper.
   
• Colour (where appropriate) and cut out the template pieces.
   
• Glue the large rectangular piece on first to cover the tube.
   
• Glue on the head, hat, legs and arms.
   
• Glue the Eucalyptus leaf onto one of his hands (or sticking out of his hat).
   
• Close the template window after printing to return to this screen.
     
• Set page margins to zero if you have trouble fitting the template on one page (FILE, PAGE SETUP or FILE, PRINTER SETUP in most browsers). 

Template:  COLOR   or   B&W